Mole Crabs

[TheORKINMan]

Anyone here kept them? I just got a few from SWfish.com to use as sand stirrers. I've heard they don't live all that long but I thought I'd give them a shot.

So far they've exhibited pretty neat behavior, almost like little horsehoe crabs scuttling about and reburying themselves in front of different strong current flows. I squirted a little phyto/cyclops mixture in front of them and they seemd to enjoy that.

 

[seapug]

sounds interesting. If you are looking for longer lived sand stirrers, you might try Nassarius snails.

 

[redfishsc]

Great bait for catching Pompano.

In fact, small pompano make great aquarium fish if you have a big enough tank.... use the mole crabs to go catch you some pompano. Eat half of them and put the other half in your tank.


(yes I've kept juvenile pompano in my aquarium before... cool little fish)

 

[TheORKINMan]

Yeah I have Nassarius I just wanted to have something that moves some volume since my pistol shrimp is in the sump now. Have to say I love the different stuff on SWfish, got a spiny oyster which looks amazing as well and a harlquin shrimp that is now squatting on a choc chip star.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

They are filter feeders, not sure exactly what they eat but I would think bacteria, detritus, and phytoplankton. They probably wont last more than about a month without heavy feeding.

How much did you buy them for?

 

[TheORKINMan]

I believe it was like 4.49 for a group of 5

 

[redfishsc]

As a side note, they would make great chow for a grouper or lionfish.


Lobster is right, they are filter feeders. Chances are they will die in your substrate one day (hopefully not all at once) and actually cause more trouble than they solve. Keep an eye on them.